The Chicago Bears opened the season with a slew of disappointing losses. Quarterback Justin Fields caught the brunt of the criticism, and rightfully so. To put it mildly, Fields and the Bears offense was horrendous. And the defense didn’t fare any better.
Did Justin Fields Save His Job Against Denver And Washington?
But could a strong showing against the Commanders be the bounce-back Chicago is searching for? The offense hung 40 points on Washington last Thursday night, with Fields and wideout D.J. Moore torching the opposing secondary all evening.
I know what you are thinking. A great, one-off performance shouldn’t be enough to erase the subpar opening month. I agree. However, the Bears won’t be so quick to move off Justin Fields — not if general manager Ryan Poles has anything to say about it.
So, if the front office stands by its signal-caller for a second straight offseason, what can we expect at the 2024 NFL Draft? In today’s mock draft, the Bears sit at No. 1 and No. 2 overall — thanks to the pick acquired from the Moore trade.
After acquiring a treasure trove of assets for the top pick last Spring, imagine what an offer for Caleb Williams could look like.
The Trade
Giants Send:
•No. 6 Overall (2024)
•No. 37 Overall (2024)
•EDGE Azeez Ojulari
•Future 1st Rounder (2025)
•Future 2nd Rounder (2025)
•Future 2nd Rounder (2026)
Bears Send:
•No. 1 Overall (2024)
The Chicago Bears will have passed on Bryce Young and Caleb Williams if this trade comes to fruition. In doing so, the franchise acquired the following:
•Four 1st Rounders
•Five 2nd Rounders
•WR D.J. Moore
•EDGE Azeez Ojulari
Trading Ojulari and several draft picks may read as a steep price if you’re a Giants fan, but securing Williams will cost an arm and a leg — there’s no denying that. Maybe it won’t be New York that makes the move; the Broncos, Vikings, Patriots, and Raiders are all well within range to trade up.
2024 NFL Mock Draft: Bears Take Center Stage With Yet Another Trade Down
As for today, Caleb Williams… YOU are a New York Giant. And Justin Fields… YOU are still a Chicago Bear. Now, let’s dive into the latest mock draft for the team from the Windy City.
Round 1, Pick 2: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
Adding D.J. Moore to the wide receiver room is already paying dividends for the Bears. But they shouldn’t stop there. At No. 2 overall in this mock draft, the front office pairs its Ohio State quarterback with a Buckeye pass catcher. Enter Marvin Harrison Jr.
Flexing prototypical size and effortless route running, Harrison Jr. is widely considered the best wide receiver prospect in years. Even eliciting comparisons to Julio Jones and Calvin Johnson coming out of college. One look at the tape shows that this lofty praise is warranted.
With Chicago, Harrison Jr. would immediately form one of the most lethal receiver duos in the NFL. Moore and MHJ can help Justin Fields finally get over the hump, as the young signal-caller is quickly running out of lives with the Bears.
Round 1, Pick 6 (via NYG): Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State
Chicago traded for pass rusher Azeez Ojulari earlier in the article. However, similar to wide receiver, the front office shouldn’t be content with one addition. Instead, selecting Jared Verse would give Matt Eberflus his proverbial thunder to Ojulari’s lightning.
Verse is a powerful defender who uses brute force to work his way into the backfield. The Florida State product displays remarkable strength and violent hands, consistently ripping through blocking attempts off the edge. He is also a solid run defender, which will help keep him on the field for three downs.
Yannick Ngakoue is an impending free agent, and the depth behind him at defensive end is… lacking. Reshaping the roster by throwing Ojulari on one end and Verse on the other is exactly what the doctor ordered. Finally, some positivity for the rabid Bears fanbase.
Round 2, Pick 37 (via NYG): Cooper Beebe, OL, Kansas State
Cooper Beebe is one of my favorite guards in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Kansas State alum is witnessing a down year for the Wildcats, but he still flashes enough upside on tape to be an early second-rounder come next April. For Chicago, Beebe would provide immediate help on the interior.
Braxton Jones and Darnell Wright are a promising offensive tackle duo when healthy — emphasis on the “when healthy” part. Teven Jenkins is another high-end option on the line, but he also has struggled to stay on the field. That’s where Beebe comes in.
Although he isn’t the ideal size for the outside, Beebe has shown the ability to fill in when needed. He is a much more natural fit on the inside, where defenders can’t take advantage of his lack of length. So, adding a versatile lineman allows for insurance in the event of injury while giving the Bears an instant starter at right guard.
Round 2, Pick 39: Barrett Carter, LB, Clemson
The Bears spent a considerable amount of money on the linebacker position last offseason. Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards inked deals via free agency, but the position as a whole still needs more juice. When life gives you lemons, draft Barrett Carter.
Okay, corny jokes aside, Chicago really could use the skill set of Carter for the middle of the Eberflus system. As Bears fans will know, Eberflus’ scheme puts a heavy reliance on having sure tacklers at the second and third levels. The Clemson defender is a bruising tackler with a red-hot motor.
Because of his combination of strength and athleticism, Carter projects as a versatile weapon on defense. He has the IQ to serve as the green dot player and the “dog in him” to play as the strong-side backer. The defense gets yet another high-upside player added. But wait! There’s more on the way!
Round 3, Pick 70: T’Vondre Sweat, DT, Texas
The Bears started out this mock draft article by trading for and drafting two edge rushers. Now, it is time to bolster the interior. Gervon Dexter looks like a future star, while Zacch Pickens also has starting-caliber potential. However, one more behemoth would be a cherry on top for the new-look defensive trenches.
Texas star T’Vondre Sweat is the ideal man for the middle. Sweat stands 6-foot-4 and weighs over 360 pounds, and you can tell from the moment he gets off the bus. The Longhorn veteran is in his fifth season on campus and has transformed his body since arriving.
He is a work in progress, mostly as a pass rusher. Sweat lacks proper hand usage on several snaps, but in college, his power made up for any fundamental deficiencies. That trademark power is the selling point, as Sweat profiles as a dominant run stuffer from Day 1. This is a bet on upside in Round 3 of our latest Bears mock draft.